Santorum adviser: End the Iowa straw poll

11/27/12 10:52 AM EST

One of the architects of Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign is calling for an end to the Iowa straw poll, adding to the ranks of Republicans seeking to eliminate the contest for the 2016 cycle.

Nick Ryan, the Iowa-based strategist who advised Santorum’s campaign before heading up the pro-Santorum super PAC, the Red, White and Blue Fund, said in an email that Gov. Terry Branstad was right to declare “the Iowa straw poll’s time has come to an end.”

“Presidential campaigns should not be pushed to the brink of bankruptcy for a beauty contest straw poll,” said Ryan, who also heads the deep-pocketed American Future Fund. “Presidential campaigns should be welcomed into Iowa with open arms and be encouraged to campaign everywhere, meet voters and organize a real caucus effort. That's good for the process and good for Iowa. Simply put, a Randy Travis concert may help you win a straw poll beauty contest but does nothing to build a winning, successful presidential campaign.”

The quadrennial straw poll has come under serious criticism over the past week, after Branstad told The Wall Street Journal that the contest had “outlived its usefulness.” The governor said Monday that the 2016 presidential candidates would determine the significance of the Ames ballot.

Though the straw poll occupies a special place in the lore of presidential politics, it has a weak record of predicting the outcome of the Iowa caucuses. That was certainly the case in 2012: Michele Bachmann won the straw poll, after organizing heavily and bringing in country singer Randy Travis for a concert in Ames, before finishing last in the January caucuses. Santorum won Iowa after coming in fourth in the straw poll.

“Those that bemoan the end of the straw poll would be better served by focusing on planning events that are inclusive and welcoming for all candidates and Iowa Republicans,” Ryan added.

The senior Santorum strategist isn’t the only veteran of the 2012 Iowa battle to urge an end to the circus-like event in Ames. Mitt Romney’s former top Iowa strategist, David Kochel, wrote on Twitter on Monday evening that he, too, agrees with Branstad.

“Gov. Branstad is right, straw poll should end. There is no valid rationale for keeping it. Should be replaced with a signature event,” he said.

Romney, who came in second to Santorum in the caucuses by a handful of votes, skipped Ames entirely.